Fans of the Giants, even in good times, are frequently exclaiming, “We need linebackers!’’ and there’s no doubt that’s again the case this offseason. The Giants Thursday retained a player who may not excite the fan base very much, but Keith Rivers is back and will be competing for a starting spot.
Rivers didn’t make much of an impact in his first season with the Giants, arriving with fairly high expectations after a mostly disappointing four-year run with the Bengals. Rivers, an unrestricted free agent, didn’t do anything to warrant much interest in the open market and so he returned, signing a one-year contract.
The Giants also added some depth to their defense, signing safety Ryan Mundy, who played in every game the past four seasons for the Steelers, mostly on special teams. Mundy doesn’t replace Kenny Phillips, who wasn’t expected back and yesterday signed a one-year deal with the Eagles, as restricted free agent Stevie Brown and second-year Will Hill return at safety alongside starter Antrel Rolle. Cornerback Terrell Thomas also could be an option at safety if his knee holds up.
Rivers, 26, entered the NFL as a 2008 first-round pick out of USC, the ninth overall selection in the draft. Rivers this past season played in only 11 games, starting six. He was productive (44 tackles) when he was on the field, but battled through nagging hamstring issues.
The Giants have a glaring need for a middle linebacker, but that’s not where Rivers fits in. He will be given a chance to win a starting outside linebacker job, likely as a replacement for Mathias Kiwanuka, who shifts back to his natural defensive end role with Osi Umenyiora looking elsewhere. Jacquian Williams is the favorite to move into the starting spot vacated when Michael Boley was released. Last season’s starter in the middle, Chase Blackburn, is an unrestricted free agent and looking for more than a one-year commitment.
It’s no secret the Giants are in the market to upgrade the position. They already have had former Vikings middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley in for a visit but, last night, he signed with the Cardinals. The Giants, according to ESPN, expressed some interest in Rey Maualuga, 26, a four-year starter with the Bengals.
Mundy, 28, visited yesterday and quickly signed a deal. Originally a 2008 sixth-round pick out of West Virginia, Mundy played nearly 300 snaps on defense last season for the Steelers. He started the first four games, filling in as Troy Polamalu sat with a calf injury. Mundy did not distinguish himself as a starter, allowing three receiving touchdowns in the first four games.
The Giants only had lukewarm interest in re-signing Phillips, their 2008 first-round pick, offering him a modest one-year contract. Phillips, 26, needs to re-establish his value because of knee problems. This past season he played in seven games, starting six, slowed by a sprained MCL in his right knee.
* Offensive tackle David Diehl is in the process of sorting through a salary reduction in order to stay on the roster. Diehl, a 10-year veteran and longtime starter at various spots on the offensive line, is scheduled to make $4.475 million in salary in 2013 and count $6.9 million on the salary cap.
* Cornerback Aaron Ross officially signed his one-year contract after lasting only one season with the Jaguars. He said he told general manager Jerry Reese when he left he wanted to return one day.
“I was here for five years, this is where my career started, two Super Bowl rings,’’ Ross said. “All my brothers are here, all the coaches are here. It just felt like home. I was ready to come back home.”
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Tight end Martellus Bennett on Wednesday signed a four-year, $20 million contract with the Bears and yesterday bid adieu to the Giants.
“New York was a blessing to me,’’ he tweeted, adding he called to thank tight end coach Mike Pope. “Love that dude,’’ Bennett wrote. “Couldn’t have asked for a better man to help me understand who I was [as] a player.’’